Stripe coating apparatus



1954 F. SCHNEIDER ETAL 3,

STRIPE COATING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 29, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS: FRED SCHNEIDER and FRED TRAVIS MILLER ATTORNEY 1964 F. SCHNEIDER ETAL 3,155,538

STRIPE COATING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 29, 1961 INVENTORS: FRED SCHNEIDER& FRED TRAVIS MILLER ATTORN EY 3, 1964 F. SCHNEIDER ETAL 3,155,533

STRIPE COATING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 29, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 220 v 30 SUPPLY nzcrmc HEATERS MAGNETIC AUTO TRANSFORMERS MOTOR STARTER 0-280 voLrs I I 1 I J couvevon DRIVE MOTOR AND MOTOR 4 y I MAGNETIC CONTACTOR I ron HEATERS 6 6 russo msconuzcr sw/rcn ron HEATERS no VOLTS I I 220 v. m SUPPLY 22o \I/oLrs I SINrl.ER PCOLTE Sig {TC N I- 1 H A U I T E O {CONTROL cur-arr I If I ISTART I rm: CLOCK FOR 04m snur-orr T l. 3 sron PUSH aurron PHOTOELECTRIC nCELL soumow VALVE so [[3 l k o FOR CONTROL or convevon n X pnorouscrmc qcsu. SOLENOID VALVE L l3 FOR conmoz. or E II SPRAY cuu I3 X TD Fig; 4.

INVENTORS:

.FRED SCHNEIDER 8. FRED TRAVIS MILLER ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,155,538 STRIPE CQATING APPARATUS Fred Schneider, Forest Hills, N.Y., and Fred Iravis Miller, North Augusta, 5.6., assignors to United Merchants and Manufacturers, Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed Nov. 29, 1961, Ser. No. 155,663

3 Claims. (Cl. 118-2) This invention relates to apparatus for applying a stripe of coating to a selected area, and more particularly to apparatus for applying a stripe of coating to the marginal or near marginal area of a drape or other member.

Heretofore, it has been the usual practice to provide an insert of buckram or other stiff fabric at the top of the panels of drapes or other window or wall hangings so as to afford additional body or stiffness to the drapery fabric and thereby improve the appearance and hanging characteristics, particularly when the drape is formed with the usual spaced apart pleats at the top thereof. In the manufacture of such drapes, the buckram insert and its application to the panels of drapery fabric represent a substantial item of cost. Further, the buckram normally employed, upon repeated laundering or dry-cleaning, in time, becomes limp, or at least loses a part of its original stiffness, whereupon the top of the drape, and particularly the pleats thereof, no longer have the crispness and sharpness necessary for the attractive appearance thereof.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a coating apparatus for applying a stripe or band of coating to panels, preferably the reverse side thereof, from Which drapes or other window or wall hangings are made so that the coating stripe will be accurately applied to the desired area of the panel and will impart the requisite stiffness to the upper portion thereof.

A further object of this invention is to provide such apparatus which is constructed and arranged to apply a stripe or band of thermoplastic material, preferably an emulsion of thermoplastic material, to a selected narrow area of the reverse side of the top of the panel and effect the setting or heat curing of the thermoplastic material.

In accordance with this invention, the stripe coating apparatus includes a conveyor for transporting successive panels or other sheet materials with the top edge of each panel extending parallel to the direction of movement thereof, a spray nozzle disposed above the path of travel of each of the successive conveyed panels so as to discharge a spray of the thermoplastic material onto and adjacent the top of each panel as it passes therebeneath, cooperating belts for holding each panel during its movement to prevent weaving thereof and to insure that the thermoplastic material is applied to the desired area of the panel, means for supplying the thermoplastic material to the spray nozzle, control means associated with the spray nozzle to effect discharge from the spray nozzle only when a fabric panel is disposed thereunder, and a heater disposed along the path of travel of the conveyed panels at a location following the spray nozzle, considered in the direction of movement of the conveyed panels, and being operative to dry and set the applied thermoplastic material.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the conveyor assembly for transporting the successive panels includes an endless conveyor, preferably in the form of a slat conveyor belt, engageable from below with the top part of each panel and thus supporting the panel, and a pair of laterally spaced apart, endless metal bands guided to have lower runs disposed above the slat conveyor so that the top part of each panel travels between the upper run of the slat conveyor be t and the lower runs of the spaced metal bands While held or clamped therebctween with the zone to which the thermoplastic material is applied on each panel located between the lower runs of the metal bands. The upper run of the slat conveyor is guided to move along an upwardly bowed path whereby the metal bands are tensioned and the lower runs are pressed toward the slat conveyor belt along the entire upper run of the latter to insure that each fabric panel is conveyed with out skewing or weaving thereof i.e., is firmly held or clamped between the slat conveyor belt and the metal bands. Hence the band-shaped coating or layer of thermoplastic material is applied to the reverse side of each fabric panel parallel to the top edge thereof and is confined to the selected area of each panel which area is defined by the parallel edges of the spaced metal bands.

The above, and other objects, features and advantages of the invention, will be apparent from the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a schematic perspective view showing the important components of an apparatus embodying the invention for applying a coating or layer of thermoplastic material to panels so as to afford stiffness to the top part of drapes manufactured therefrom;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the reverse side of a panel to which a stiffening coating or layer has been applied;

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational View of a portion of the apparatus schematically illustrated in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a wiring diagram of the electrical control system included in the apparatus of FIGURES 1 and 3;

FIGURE 5 is a detail view of one type of electromagnetically operated clutch assembly employed in the apparatus of FIGURES 1 and 3; and

FIGURE 6 is a schematic sectional view of a suitable control valve in the apparatus of FIGURES l and 3.

Referring to the drawings in detail, and initially to FIG- URES 1 and 3 thereof, the apparatus 10 embodying the present invention comprises, as its major components, an infeed conveyor 11 for delivering successive panels P to a main conveyor assembly 12 operative to transport the successive fabric panels with the top edge of each panel extending parallel to the direction of movement thereof; a spray nozzle 13 disposed above the path of travel of the successive fabric panels transported by the main conveyor assembly 12 to discharge a spray of thermoplastic material, preferably an aqueous emulsion or latex, onto the reverse, upwardly facing side of each panel adjacent the top edge of the latter; a supply system 14% by which the aqueous emulsion is supplied to the nozzle 13; and a heating oven 15 disposed above the path of travel of the panels transported by main conveyor assembly 12 at a location following that of the spray nozzle 13, considered in the direction of movement of the panels, and being operative to dry and set the applied thermoplastic material.

The apparatus 10 further comprises a frame 16 (FIG- URE 3) which may include parallel, spaced apart, horizontally extending side frame members 17 and uprights 18, 19 and 2t? suitably joined, as by welding, to the side frame members 17 at spaced apart locations along the latter.

The infeed conveyor 11 includes spaced pulleys 21 (FIGURE 1) fixed, at axially spaced locations, on a shaft 22 which is journalled in bearing blocks secured to the uprights 18; spaced idler pulleys 23 rotatable on bearings 24 (FIGURE 5) carried by shaft 25 extending laterally at the same level as shaft 22 and having its opposite ends journalled in bearing blocks 26 (FIGURE 3) mounted on upright 18; and endless conveyor belts 27 running around the pulleys 21 and the correspondin idler pulleys 23.

3 A feed table 28 extends inwardly from a side frame member 17 at one side of the infeed conveyor 11 and has its top surface lying in the horizontal plane of the upper runs of conveyor belts 27. An edge guide 29 extends upwardly along the outer longitudinal edge of the feed table 28.

The main conveyor assembly 12 includes pulleys 3! (FIGURE 1) fixed on shaft 25 adjacent the idler pulleys 23 of infeed conveyor 11, pulleys 31 rotatable on a shaft 32 which extends laterally at the same level as the shaft 25 and which has its opposite ends journalled in bearing blocks 33 mounted on uprights (FIGURE 3), and conveyor belts 34 running around the pulleys 3t) and the corresponding pulleys 31.

The main conveyor assembly 12 further includes a slat conveyor belt 35 running around axially wide pulleys or drums 36 and 37 which are fixed on the end portions of shafts and 32, respectively, adjacent the side frame member 17 from which feed table 28 extends so that the top run of slat conveyor belt extends longitudinally from the delivery end of feed table 23. Idler shafts 38 and 39 are disposed above the drums or pulleys 36 and 37, respectively, and journalled in bearing blocks 49 and 41 mounted on upwardly projecting portions of uprights 19 and 20, respectively. A pair of axially spaced apart pulleys 42 are mounted on idler shaft 38 adjacent the opposite ends of the wide pulley or drum 36 therebelow, and a similarly axially spaced apart pair of pulleys 43 are mounted on idler shaft 39. Thin, endless metal bands 44 run around pulleys 42 and the corresponding pulleys 43, and such pulleys are dimensioned so that the lower runs of the endless metal bands 44 travel along the opposite longitudinal edge portions of the top run of slat conveyor belt 35 with a space therebetween equal to the width of the coating applied to the panel.

In order to ensure that the lower runs of metal bands 44 are held tightly against the top run of slat conveyor belt 35, which top run functions as a support for the upper marginal area of the panel, the top run of belt 35 is made to follow an upwardly bowed or arcuate path by strips 45, desirably of fibrous or other material which can be bowed or bent without damage. Strips 45 are mounted on each side of the machine on the side frame members 17, one of which is shown in FIGURE 3. Adjusting screws 45' spaced along the length of each strip 45 permit adjustment of the degree of curvature of strip 45. The upper runs of conveyor belts 34 may also be bowed upwardly by engagement with a suitably mounted common roller 45a (FIGURE 1). By reason of the upward bowing of the top run of slat conveyor belt 35, metal bands 44 are substantially tensioned and held against the bowed top run of the slat conveyor belt thus securely maintaining the edge portion of each panel between the lower runs of the spaced narrow belts 44 and the upper run of the slat conveyor 35.

Conveyor belts 44, shaft 25, slat conveyor belt 35, steel bands 44 and roller 45a all run continuously while the machine is in operation, i.e., when the starter switch is closed. Drive is effected by a sprocket 46 fixed on one end of shaft 32 and driven by a chain 47 running over a sprocket 48 fixed on the armature shaft of an electric motor 49 (FIGURE 1).

The infeed conveyor 11 is driven only when clutch 53 hereinafter described provides a driving connection between shaft 25 on which the clutch is disposed and the shaft 22 through the drive chain 51 passing over sprocket 52 freely rotatable on a bearing 54 carried by shaft 25 and a sprocket 5i) fixed on shaft 22. Sprocket 52 is adapted to be coupled rotatably to shaft 25 by clutch 53.

As shown in FIGURE 5, the sprocket 52 driven by chain 51 is freely rotatable on a bearing 54 carried by shaft 25. The clutch 53 includes a driven member 55 fixed on one side of sprocket 52 and a driving member 56 mounted on a carrier 57 which is keyed, as at 58, on a body 59 fixed to shaft 25 so that the driving member 56 is axially movable into and out of engagement with the driven member 55, while being rotatably coupled to the axle 25. It will be apparent that, when driving member 56 is engaged with driven member 55, sprockets 50 and 52 and chain 51 effect rotation of shaft 22 from shaft 25, thereby to cause operation of the infeed conveyor 11, whereas, axial movement of clutch member 56 out of engagement with member 55, interrupts the transmission of rotary movement to shaft 22 and thereby halts operation of the infeed conveyor 11, While the main conveyor assembly 12 continues to operate. The clutch 53 represents one of many known types of clutches. It will be understood the invention is not limited to the particular clutch drive disclosed for conveyor 11 and other suitable known drives can be employed.

The engagement and disengagement of clutch 53 is preferably controlled electromagnetically, for example by a solenoid 60 having its armature 61 connected through a link 62 to a yoke 63 which is pivotally mounted, as at 64, on a suitably fixed bracket 65. The yoke 63 has spaced apart upper arms 66 which embrace the carrier 57 and carry rotatable rollers 67 engaged in an annular channel 68 formed in the outer surface of carrier 57. A spring 69 is connected to the yoke 63 to urge the latter to rock in the direction for moving carrier 57 axially away from sprocket 52, that is, for disengaging clutch member 56 from driving member 55, while the solenoid 6i) is arranged so that, upon energization thereof, its armature 61 is extended to effect opposite rocking or swinging of yoke 63, that is, for effecting engagement of clutch members 56 and 55.

In order to effect engagement of clutch 53 to drive the infeed conveyor 11, only when a panel P is positioned to be fed beneath the nozzle 13, i.e., to start the feed of the panel to the coating station, the energization of solenoid 60, causing engagement of clutch 53, is initiated by a photoelectric cell 70 (FIGURES l and 3) which is suitably suspended from a top frame member 71 so as to be disposed above feed table 28 adjacent the rear end of the latter. The photoelectric cell 70, as conventional, includes a light source directing a beam of light 72 downwardly against table 28 and the reflection of the beam of light from the latter serves to energize the photoelectric cell and thereby determine the resistance of the latter. It will be apparent that the reflection of light from the table 28 will be different from the reflection of light by the panel P on the table so that the presence or absence of the panel at the point of impingement of the light beam 72 on table 28 will determine the condition of photoelectric cell 70. When the panel P is present on the table so that the intensity of light, if any, reflected has thus been changed, the photoelectric cell 70 functions through known electrical circuits to actuate the solenoid 60 to engage clutch 53 and effect driving of conveyor 11 as hereinabove described.

Referring to FIGURE 1, it will be seen that the systom 14 for supplying an aqueous emulsion of thermoplastic matcrial or latex to the spray nozzle 13, which is also shown suspended from the top frame member 71, includes a tank 82 containing a supply of the thermoplastic material, a pump 83 driven by an electric motor 84 and having its inlet connected to a tube (not shown) extending into tank 82 while the outlet of the pump is connected through a flexible tube 85 to an inlet port of a distributing valve 86. As shown in FIGURE 6, the distributing valve 86 may have an outlet or discharge port 87 connected by a flexible tube 88 to the spray nozzle 13, and a return port 89 connected to a flexible return pipe 90 leading into the tank 82. The distributing valve 86 may further include a valve spool 91 urged by a spring 92 to the position shown in FIGURE 6, so that discharge port 87 is closed and the aqueous emulsion of thermoplastic material conveyed through tube 85 from pump 83 is returned to the tank 82 by way of the return tube 90. The valve spool 91 is connected to the armature of a solenoid 92 which is operative, when energized, to shift the valve spool toward the left, as viewed in FIGURE 6, and thereby establish communication between the flexible tubes 85 and 88 so that the aqueous emulsion of thermoplastic material is then conveyed to the spray nozzle 13 for downward discharge from the latter toward the slat conveyor belt 35' between the lower runs of metal bands 44.

The solenoid 92 is energized to permit the discharge of material from nozzle 13 only when a panel is disposed under the spray nozzle, thereby preventing the collection of such materials on the slat conveyor belt 35 and the consequent transfer or smearing of such materials onto the panels. The energization of solenoid 92 is initiated by a photoelectric cell 93 which is suspended from top frame member 71 so as to be disposed immediately ahead of the nozzle 13. The photoelectric cell 93, which is similar to the photoelectric cell 7%), includes a conventional light source directing a beam of light 94 downwardly against the upper run of slat conveyor belt 35 between the lower runs of metal bands The reflection of the beam of light 94 from the slat conveyor belt serves to energize the photoelectric cell 93 and thereby determine the resistance of the latter. Thus, the presence or absence of the panel at the point of impingement or" light beam 94 on slat conveyor belt 35 will determine the value of the resistance of photoelectric cell 93, and, as conventional, energization of solenoid 92 whenever a portion of a panel rests on conveyor belt 35. The spacing between beam 94 and spray nozzle 13 is such that the nozzle is turned on just before the leading edge of the panel reaches the spray path of the noz le, and turned off just as .the opposite edge arrives at this spray path; for this purpose the circuit containing the photoelectric cell 93 is provided with a conventional time delay relay to shut oil the nozzle at the right time. The time delay relay can be adjusted for each width of panel fed through the machine.

The heating oven 15 preferably includes a downwardly opening metal housing or reflector 97 which is sus pended from the top frame member 71 and which is of elongated configuration so as to extend between the metal bands 44 along a substantial length of the top run of slat conveyor belt 35 from a point immediately following the location of spray nozzle 13 to a point just before the delivery end of the main conveyor assembly 12.. Resistance heating elements 93 (FIGURE 4) are disposed within the housing 97 and are supplied with current to generate the desired temperature.

FIGURE 4 shows a suitable wiring diagram for the parts of the machine; it will be understood this wiring diagram represents one of many electrical circuits which can be used to supply power to motor 49 and effect energization of the photoelectric cells 70 and 93. This wiring diagram is provided with legends so that it is self-explanatory. In the side circuit containing the photoelectric cell 7il, TD indicates a time delay relay that prevents the infeed conveyor 11 from starting until the photoelectric cell 70 heats up to the point where light reflected from light beam 72 when a panel P is present will actuate the drive for conveyor 11, i.e., engage clutch 53 through actuation of solenoid 60. Similarly the circuit containing photoelectric cell 93 has a time delay relay TD so that the spraying does not start until the photoelectric cell 93 has heated up to the point where it is actuated by the reflected light beam and, as noted, with a second time delay relay which controls the starting of the spray so that the spraying commences as the leading edge of the panel is in position to be sprayed and is stopped when the opposite or trailing edges leave the spray path; the relay being adjustable to accommodate panels of different widths.

In operating the above-described apparatus 10, the push button switch is closed to effect operation of the motor 49 by which conveyor 12 is driven, operation of motor 84 driving pump 83 and supplying current to the resistance heating elements 93 in heating oven 15. A panel P is then placed, with its reverse side facing upwardly, upon the belts 27 of infeed conveyor 11 and is laterally adjusted so that the top edge of the panel is against the guide 29 on table 28. When the leading edge of the panel P intercepts the light beam 72 of photoelectric cell 70, the latter causes energization of solenoid 60 whereby clutch 53 is engaged todrive the infeed conveyor 11. The panel is thus fed to and transported on conveyor belts 34 while the top edge portion of the panel is securely held between slat conveyor belt 35 and the lower runs of the metal bands. The nozzle tip on spray nozzle 13 is chosen and located to produce a band of desired width; more than one nozzle can be used, if desired. It will be understood the metal bands 44 for any given machine are spaced apart a distance to permit formation of the desired width of band coating with the upper marginal edge of the panel firmly held between the right hand band 44 (viewing FIGURE 1) and the right hand marginal area of the cooperating slat conveyor 35.

The operation of infeed conveyor 11 continues so long as a panel P is beneath the light beam '72. When the panel which is thus conveyed intercepts the beam of light 94, the photoelectric cell 93 causes energization of solenoid 92 and thereby actuates the distributing valve 86 so that the thermoplastic material is conveyed to nozzle 13 for downward discharge from the latter onto the reverse side of the fabric panel which is passing therebelow. The secure engagement of bands 44 against the panel on slat conveyor 35 prevents skewing of the panel and thereby ensures that the band-shaped layer or coating 1% extends parallel to the top edge of the panel P.

When the trailing edge of the fabric panel moves past the beam of light 94, the solenoid 92 is deenergized to effect actuation of the distributing valve 36 under the influence of spring 92 to interrupt the discharge of the thermoplastic material from nozzle 13. As the panel is further conveyed past the heating oven 15, the bandshaped layer or coating 1% of thermoplastic material is cured or set; upon discharge of the panel at the delivery end of the main conveyor assembly 12, the band-shaped layer or coating of thermoplastic material stitfens the upper part of the panel. When the trailing edge of the panel passes the light beam 72, the clutch 53 is again disengaged to interrupt the drive for the infeed conveyor 11.

Suitable thermoplastic materials that may be employed for the band-shaped layer or coating 1% on the reverse (not the side exposed to view when the drape is hung) side of the fabric panel P include homopolymers of vinyl acetate, vinyl acetate polymers, polyvinyl chloride, carboxyvinyl-vinyl acetate copolymers, vinylchloride-vinyl acetate copolymors, vinyl chloride-vinylid'ene chloride copolymers, vinylchloride-maleic ester copolymers, polymers and copolymers of acrylic esters, polyethylene, and polypropylene mixtures of the foregoing resins, or of such resins with'other modifying resins and additives such as, the polyesters of acrylic and methacrylic acids, alkyd resins, chlorinated diphenyls and epoxy resins, fillers, pigments, stabilizers and plasticizers. The preferred thermoplastic is an aqueous emulsion of vinyl acetate copolymer which is available commercially under the designation Geon990-X4 from The Goodrich Rubber Company, containing a suitable plasticizer and thickener, such as a high molecular weight carboxy vinyl polymer also available commercially, under the designation Carbopol 934, from the same company, containing approximately 43% of vinyl acetate copolymer, approximately 0 to 10% plasticizer and thickener arid the rest water.

The rate at which the thermoplastic material is discharged by the spray nozzle 13, and the rate of advancement of the panel under the spray nozzle are selected so that the thickness of the band-shaped coating or layer 100 is preferably within the range between approximately .002 and .006 inch, depending upon the stiffness or hand to be imparted to the top part of the drape formed from the panel P. Further, the electrical resistance heating elements 98 are selected to provide a temperature in the oven of between 1300 F. and 1500 F., when using vinyl acetate emulsion as the coating material, while the length of the oven 15 and the speed of advancement of the panel by the main conveyor assembly 12 are selected so that the coating or layer sprayed on the fabric panel is subjected to heating by the oven 15 for a period of between approximatly .01 and 5 seconds, and is heated to a temperature between approidmately 300 F. and 500 F., depending on the time of heating. When heating at 300 F. longer times of the order of 5 seconds are used and at 500 F. shorter times of the order of .01 second. In other words, the times and temperature within the ranges given bear an inverse relationship to each other. Preferred curing temperature is above 300 F., say from 300 to 350 F.

Preferably a masking member 13' (FIGURE 3) such as a strip of sheet steel or other suitable material is disposed over each of the upper runs of the metal bands 44. These masking members 13 are spaced apart a distance equal to the desired width of the band of coating material to be formed on the panel P. The masking members 13 are suitably supported from the frame of the machine and overlie the upper runs of the metal bands 44 leaving a space of the desired width between these bands through which space nozzle 13 projects the spray of coating material; thus the masking members 13' control the width of the coating band formed on the panel P.

As is apparent from FIGURE 2, a relatively narrow top edge portion 101 of the panel P is masked either by the metal bands 44 or by the masking member 13', when the latter is used, so that such edge portion is uncoated and may be folded over onto the coating or layer 100 to define a relatively narrow hem. If desired, the upper portion of such panel may be folded to form a double thickness upper edge portion, with the relatively narrow band-coated area disposed on the underside of the upper portion of the face of the panel.

The panel P may be woven, knitted, felted or of other construction composed of any desired fibrous material such as cotton, silk, glass fibers, synthetic fibers and blends of such fibers. These materials, it will be noted, are flexible.

The apparatus can be used to apply any desired bandwidth of coating and the spray tip of the nozzle and its height from above the panel adjusted accordingly. The bands 44 can be about 1" wide, more or less, and spaced apart from 3 to 4". For drapes it is desirable to produce a panel having a one inch wide uncoated stripe at the top and a contiguous coated band parallel with the upper edge and from 3" to 4" wide. These dimensions are, of course, exemplary and can be changed as desired.

It will be noted that the described apparatus applies a band or stripe of thermoplastic material to panels from which drapes or other hangings are produced, which band or stripe results in stiffening the upper edge portion and eliminates the necessity for using the usual buckram stiffening.

Although an illustrative embodiment of this invention has been described in detail herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to this embodiment, and that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention.

Thus, for example, the metal bands 44 can be and preferably are driven directly from the drive shaft 46 by a chain driving a sprocket on the shaft 39 or other suitable drive, rather than by having the slat conveyor 35 drive the endless bands 44 due to frictional contact therebetween or between the lower runs of the endless bands 44 and the panel or panels 8 and between the latter and the upper run of the slat conveyor 35.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for applying a band of stiffening material to a flexible panel along an upper marginal edge portion thereof, comprising in combination,

(a) conveyor means for supporting and moving the portion of the panel contiguous to said upper marginal edge portion thereof through a substantially horizontal path,

(Z1) an endless movable support positioned adjacent said conveyor means for supporting the said upper marginal edge portion of said panel during movement thereof through said horizontal path,

(0) a pair of spaced endless bands cooperating with said endless movable support for clamping each panel between said pair of spaced bands and said support along its upper edge and also adjacent the said marginal portion during movement of said panel,

((1) spray nozzle means disposed above said path and positioned to spray stiffening material onto said panel portion located between said pair of spaced endless bands,

(6) means for driving the said conveyor means, said endless movable support and the pair of spaced endless bands at substantially the same linear speed, and

(f) heating means in said path following the spray nozzle means to dry the band of stiffening material after application and While the panel is still clamped between said endless movable support and said pair of spaced endless bands.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 including means for bowing the upper run of the endless movable support to tension the said support and the said spaced endless bands and thus grip the panel between said support and said pair of spaced endless bands.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 comprising control means responsive to the presence of a panel on the conveyor means to effect the discharge of the stiffening material from the spray nozzle means only when said panel is dis posed below the spray nozzle means, an infeed conveyor for feeding the panel to the conveyor means, means for driving the infeed conveyor, and control means for actuating said means for driving the infeed conveyor when the panel is in position to be fed by said conveyor means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,281,169 Pattison Apr. 28, 1942 2,287,718 Beasley June 23, 1942 2,488,519 Andrews et al. Nov. 22, 1949 2,559,351 Drake et al. July 3, 1951 2,674,093 Slomer Apr. 16, 1954 2,855,740 Noland et al. Oct. 14, 1958 2,871,984 (Iolman Feb. 3, 1959 2,961,990 Wruck Nov. 29, 1960 3,034,475 Bowman May 15, 1962 FOREIGN PATENTS 9,654 Norway July 1, 1901 530,198 Germany July 23, l93l 444,502 Great Britain Mar. 23, 1936 

1. APPARATUS FOR APPLYING A BAND OF STIFFENING MATERIAL TO A FLEXIBLE PANEL ALONG AN UPPER MARGINAL EDGE PORTION THEREOF, COMPRISING IN COMBINATION, (A) CONVEYOR MEANS FOR SUPPORTING AND MOVING THE PORTION OF THE PANEL CONTIGUOUS TO SAID UPPER MARGINAL EDGE PORTION THEREOF THROUGH A SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL PATH, (B) AN ENDLESS MOVABLE SUPPORT POSITIONED ADJACENT SAID CONVEYOR MEANS FOR SUPPORTING THE SAID UPPER MARGINAL EDGE PORTION OF SAID PANEL DURING MOVEMENT THEREOF THROUGH SAID HORIZONTAL PATH, (C) A PAIR OF SPACED ENDLESS BANDS COOPERATING WITH SAID ENDLESS MOVABLE SUPPORT FOR CLAMPING EACH PANEL BETWEEN SAID PAIR OF SPACED BANDS AND SAID SUPPORT ALONG ITS UPPER EDGE AND ALSO ADJACENT THE SAID MARGINAL PORTION DURING MOVEMENT OF SAID PANEL, (D) SPRAY NOZZLE MEANS DISPOSED ABOVE SAID PATHS AND POSITIONED TO SPRAY STIFFENING MATERIAL ONTO SAID PANEL PORTION LOCATED BETWEEN SAID PAIR OF SPACED ENDLESS BANDS, (E) MEANS FOR DRIVING THE SAID CONVEYOR MEANS, SAID ENDLESS MOVABLE SUPPORT AND THE PAIR OF SPACED ENDLESS BANDS AT SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME LINEAR SPEED, AND (F) HEATING MEANS IN SAID PATH FOLLOWING THE SPRAY NOZZLE MEANS TO DRY THE BAND OF STIFFENING MATERIAL AFTER APPLICATION AND WHILE THE PANEL IS STILL CLAMPED BETWEEN SAID ENDLESS MOVABLE SUPPORT AND SAID PAIR OF SPACED ENDLESS BANDS. 